Title of the Workshop: Editing Graphics: Viewing, Cropping and Resizing using ImageBlender Name of Presenter: Beena Raichura Subject: All subject areas Audience: Teachers teaching students in grades 4-8
As educators we are encouraged to use graphics to enhance our students’ learning experience. Clark and Mayer (2011) state “that graphics along with words encourage students to engage in active learning, and they are more likely to understand the material when they engage in active learning.” There are hundreds of software programs that allow us to manipulate graphics. If we have a basic understanding of how to view, crop, and resize the graphic, we will be able to use graphics for most of our basic needs when creating instructional materials for students.
We have ImageBlender on all MCPS (Montgomery County Public Schools) computers. ImageBlender, is a graphic-editing software from Tech4Learning. The concepts, Image Blender uses are the same for most graphic-editing programs. We recommend using Image Blender to crop, edit and resize graphics to use in the classroom.
Objectives for this lesson
Participants will understand different files types and they will use that knowledge to use appropriate file types when creating classroom instructional materials.
Participants will understand that if they try to reduce the picture file after inserting it in the program it will not reduce the file size just the size of the graphic.
Participants will successfully decrease the file size of the graphic using ImageBlender
Participants will successfully be able to crop and resize and Image using ImageBlender
Participants will integrate e-learning principles with the images as they create instructional materials for the classroom ( e.g. websites, classroom newsletters etc)
Participants will be able to create instructional materials using images and graphics to enhance learning for special needs students.
Participants will be able to create instructional materials for ESOL students that need a picture for words to improve their vocabulary of basic words.
Participants will learn to convert video files to a file compatible with the program they are using to enhance learning for all students by incorporating multimedia in the instruction.
How would you teach the lesson?
I would teach this lesson in a computer lab. Each participant would have access to their own computer. I will start with a demonstration on the Promethean board so that all participants can watch what I am doing at the same time. Then we would brainstorm ideas where Image cropping, editing and resizing can be used in the classroom. I will make a list of the ideas participants are coming up with using an Inspiration web on the Promethean board. Next I would explain graphic file types, viewing graphics on other programs and give a quick refresher to the students about cropping, re-sizing and viewing graphics providing them with information about safe websites to download music and images from for the classroom use using screen captures as follows. Finally I would have them test their knowledge about what they have learned using the skills I have taught them to create instructional materials for the classroom.
Understanding Graphic Files Graphic files are not Word files. They can stand alone as separate files. The advantage of having graphic files is that you can manipulate them for the needs of one project while keeping the original for future uses. Graphic files come in many file types. The file types will dictate which programs launch when you double click on the graphic file. The most common file types for general use are .jpg, .gif, and .png.
Viewing the Graphics Image Blender: View→Zoom To Actual Size Other Programs: View→Zoom→100% or look for zoom properties in the tool bar
To do this in Image Blender, choose Zoom to Actual Size from the View menu.
When you open a graphic, you may not be viewing it in its actual size. The graphic may fit nicely on the screen, but when you insert it into a Word document; you find that it is huge. That is because the viewing or editing software that you are using makes the graphic fit to the screen.
Large graphics take up considerably more disk space than small graphics. If you embed large graphics in other programs such as Word or PowerPoint and resize them to fit after the fact, it will not decrease the resulting file size. Therefore, always view your graphic at 100% so you have a sense of its size. To do this in Image Blender, choose Zoom to ActualSize from the View menu.
Cropping Image Blender: Image→Crop Other Programs: Image→Crop or look for the Crop command in other menus or in the tool panel
If you only want part of the image, you can crop that part out. Another important skill to know when editing, cropping and resizing graphics is to do it using Image Blender before importing them to another program.
Using Image Blender 3 you can also add effects (colored pencil, mosaic etc) to the graphic. You can add layers to the image, you can also add shapes to the images and you can paint pictures on the images to enhance the image.
The image can also be exported to other programs. ImageBlender saves Images in the Image Blender format. However; you can select the type of image you want to use to export it into another program like PowerPoint or MS Word. ImageBlender also allows you to create a slide show using images saved on ImageBlender or elsewhere on your computer. You can also add music to it to make a good slide show.
As teachers use more graphics in the classroom to support learning they may want to enhance the graphics using audio and video. Teachers need to be mindful that a video or graphic file that they want to import into the program they are using may not support that file type. Hence teachers will need to know how to convert video files to a file compatible with the program they are using. They can do that using a program called Zamzar.com. Zamzar.com is a free website that will allow teachers to convert files from one format to another.
Programs for using Graphics, Video, or Sound in the classroom: Windows Paint Windows Movie Maker PowerPoint Podcasting
Additional Resources
I will provide the participants with links to appropriate websites they can use to find video files and images they can use to create appropriate instructional materials.
Websites for graphics
Internet picture dictionary: a good website to use for pictures of simple everyday words especially useful for ELL students.
Jamendo: is a great place to find free music to use in your presentations. All music is free and legally usable. To find music that suits your needs, search descriptors of the tracks. From the "Music" menu, choose "Tags."
Learning Magic Goodies Page: Four collections of photos are available and you can download them each as a set for free. They include birds, animals, farm stuff, and backgrounds.
Teacher’s Domain: an extensive library of free digital resources from public television and other leading media producers, designed for classroom use and professional development. You can store and categorize materials that you find. You must complete a free registration process to download materials.
Evaluation/Test Yourself:
Complete these activities and then complete an evaluation survey on the evaluation page of this wiki. You can navigate to that page from the table of contents or the navigation menu on the right.
Then design a rainforest postcard. Use at least 3 pictures. For the postcard, you can use pictures from Pics4learning or another source. Go to the site and search for rainforest in the search box. Then crop the pictures to 3” X 3” or any size smaller than 4”X 6” (the size of the postcard canvas) and create your postcard.
Also create a slide show on a topic your choice using Image blender.( For example you can create a slide show of the class play, a field trip, the Halloween party, or the butterfly using you are studying in about) Use at least 6 images for the slide show. You can use more images if you like to. Three of the six images need to be selected from Pics4Learning and the other three images need to be selected from your files. You can use Teacher’s Domain or Learning Magic Goodies page to save pictures in your files. Next add music to your slide show. Download music from Jamendo and create a slide show on one topic of your choice with 6 images cropped and sized to 4” x 6” with appropriate music and captions.
I would like you to adhere to the contiguity principle that states “corresponding graphics and printed words be placed near each other on the screen” (Clark &Mayer, 2011)
OR Create classroom newsletter using at least 4 images. You can use a template for the newsletter from Publisher or use one of your own templates. You can find images from google docs or from your own files
Table of Contents
Day 4
Title of the Workshop: Editing Graphics: Viewing, Cropping and Resizing using ImageBlenderName of Presenter: Beena Raichura
Subject: All subject areas
Audience: Teachers teaching students in grades 4-8
Prerequisite Knowledge
Knowledge of Image Blender, Paint and Pics4learningContent
As educators we are encouraged to use graphics to enhance our students’ learning experience. Clark and Mayer (2011) state “that graphics along with words encourage students to engage in active learning, and they are more likely to understand the material when they engage in active learning.” There are hundreds of software programs that allow us to manipulate graphics. If we have a basic understanding of how to view, crop, and resize the graphic, we will be able to use graphics for most of our basic needs when creating instructional materials for students.We have ImageBlender on all MCPS (Montgomery County Public Schools) computers. ImageBlender, is a graphic-editing software from Tech4Learning. The concepts, Image Blender uses are the same for most graphic-editing programs. We recommend using Image Blender to crop, edit and resize graphics to use in the classroom.
Objectives for this lesson
How would you teach the lesson?
I would teach this lesson in a computer lab. Each participant would have access to their own computer. I will start with a demonstration on the Promethean board so that all participants can watch what I am doing at the same time. Then we would brainstorm ideas where Image cropping, editing and resizing can be used in the classroom. I will make a list of the ideas participants are coming up with using an Inspiration web on the Promethean board. Next I would explain graphic file types, viewing graphics on other programs and give a quick refresher to the students about cropping, re-sizing and viewing graphics providing them with information about safe websites to download music and images from for the classroom use using screen captures as follows. Finally I would have them test their knowledge about what they have learned using the skills I have taught them to create instructional materials for the classroom.Understanding Graphic Files
Graphic files are not Word files. They can stand alone as separate files. The advantage of having graphic files is that you can manipulate them for the needs of one project while keeping the original for future uses. Graphic files come in many file types. The file types will dictate which programs launch when you double click on the graphic file. The most common file types for general use are .jpg, .gif, and .png.
Viewing the Graphics
Image Blender: View→Zoom To Actual Size
Other Programs: View→Zoom→100% or look for zoom properties in the tool bar
When you open a graphic, you may not be viewing it in its actual size. The graphic may fit nicely on the screen, but when you insert it into a Word document; you find that it is huge. That is because the viewing or editing software that you are using makes the graphic fit to the screen.
Large graphics take up considerably more disk space than small graphics. If you embed large graphics in other programs such as Word or PowerPoint and resize them to fit after the fact, it will not decrease the resulting file size. Therefore, always view your graphic at 100% so you have a sense of its size.
To do this in Image Blender, choose Zoom to Actual Size from the View menu.
Cropping
Image Blender: Image→Crop
Other Programs: Image→Crop or look for the Crop command in other menus or in the tool panel
If you only want part of the image, you can crop that part out. Another important skill to know when editing, cropping and resizing graphics is to do it using Image Blender before importing them to another program.
Using Image Blender 3 you can also add effects (colored pencil, mosaic etc) to the graphic. You can add layers to the image, you can also add shapes to the images and you can paint pictures on the images to enhance the image.
The image can also be exported to other programs. ImageBlender saves Images in the Image Blender format. However; you can select the type of image you want to use to export it into another program like PowerPoint or MS Word. ImageBlender also allows you to create a slide show using images saved on ImageBlender or elsewhere on your computer. You can also add music to it to make a good slide show.
As teachers use more graphics in the classroom to support learning they may want to enhance the graphics using audio and video.
Teachers need to be mindful that a video or graphic file that they want to import into the program they are using may not support that file type. Hence teachers will need to know how to convert video files to a file compatible with the program they are using. They can do that using a program called Zamzar.com. Zamzar.com is a free website that will allow teachers to convert files from one format to another.
Programs for using Graphics, Video, or Sound in the classroom:
Windows Paint
Windows Movie Maker
PowerPoint
Podcasting
Additional Resources
I will provide the participants with links to appropriate websites they can use to find video files and images they can use to create appropriate instructional materials.Websites for graphics
Internet picture dictionary: a good website to use for pictures of simple everyday words especially useful for ELL students.
Jamendo: is a great place to find free music to use in your presentations. All music is free and legally usable. To find music that suits your needs, search descriptors of the tracks. From the "Music" menu, choose "Tags."
Learning Magic Goodies Page: Four collections of photos are available and you can download them each as a set for free. They include birds, animals, farm stuff, and backgrounds.
Teacher’s Domain: an extensive library of free digital resources from public television and other leading media producers, designed for classroom use and professional development. You can store and categorize materials that you find. You must complete a free registration process to download materials.
Evaluation/Test Yourself:
Complete these activities and then complete an evaluation survey on the evaluation page of this wiki. You can navigate to that page from the table of contents or the navigation menu on the right.Download Image Blender from http://www.tech4learning.com/imageblender for a 30 day free trial or you can use it on any of the computers at school.
Then design a rainforest postcard.
Use at least 3 pictures.
For the postcard, you can use pictures from Pics4learning or another source.
Go to the site and search for rainforest in the search box.
Then crop the pictures to 3” X 3” or any size smaller than 4”X 6” (the size of the postcard canvas) and create your postcard.
Also create a slide show on a topic your choice using Image blender.( For example you can create a slide show of the class play, a field trip, the Halloween party, or the butterfly using you are studying in about)
Use at least 6 images for the slide show.
You can use more images if you like to.
Three of the six images need to be selected from Pics4Learning and the other three images need to be selected from your files.
You can use Teacher’s Domain or Learning Magic Goodies page to save pictures in your files.
Next add music to your slide show.
Download music from Jamendo and create a slide show on one topic of your choice with 6 images cropped and sized to 4” x 6” with appropriate music and captions.
I would like you to adhere to the contiguity principle that states “corresponding graphics and printed words be placed near each other on the screen” (Clark &Mayer, 2011)
OR
Create classroom newsletter using at least 4 images. You can use a template for the newsletter from Publisher or use one of your own templates. You can find images from google docs or from your own files
Table of Contents
Adapted from http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat/tech_quick_guides/graphics_qg.shtm